Virtual event hosted by Central Asia Program at the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian studies at the George Washington University on July 6, 2020.
Even if officials in Turkmenistan continue to remain in denial about the virus, there are growing signs that not only the pandemic might have reached the country, but the authorities are increasingly concerned about how to deal with it. While certain early measures have been taken by the government officials such as banning incoming and outgoing flights and establishing quarantine centers in Lebap region, state media and high-level officials grew silent about the situation. Today, Turkmen authorities are facing the challenge of responding to the “unspoken outbreak” that is evolving in the increasing number of cases across the country.
Speakers:
– Rachel Denber, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia Division
– Aynabat Yaylymova, Founder and Program Direсtor of Saglyk.org
– Farruh Yusupov, Acting Director of RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service
– Luca Anceschi, Senior Lecturer in Central Asian Studies (Central & East European Studies)